Marlians Music was a record label owned by Nigerian singer Naira Marley that gained prominence in 2019. However, the record label officially dissolved in early 2024 following the death of one of its founding members – rapper Mohbad.
Mohbad, whose real name was Habeeb Okikiola, died in January 2024 at age 21. The circumstances around his death raised suspicions of foul play among his friends and fans.
Initial reports claimed Mohbad passed away from illness at his home in Lagos. But an autopsy later revealed multiple cuts and bruises on his body, sparking rumors of assault. This fueled calls on social media for a thorough investigation into Mohbad’s demise.
As one of Marlians Music’s core acts since its launch in 2019, Mohbad’s sudden loss dealt a huge blow to the label. His collaborations with Naira Marley on hits like “Tesumole” and “Wa Si L’eko” were among the record label’s biggest successes.
In a somber statement days after the autopsy results, Naira Marley announced that ongoing controversies and unanswered questions around Mohbad’s death had made it impossible to continue Marlians Music in its current form.
While thankful for the label’s journey and impact in redefining the Nigerian music scene, Marley said the incomplete investigation created an atmosphere of mistrust that severely hampered talent recruitment and management duties.
With Mohbad’s family also seeking justice through a reinvestigation of the case, Marley explained it became necessary to shut down operations until more light was shed on his protege’s passing.
Fans remembered Mohbad as a trailblazing artist who, alongside Naira Marley, gave rise to the highly influential “Marlian” movement in the country’s Alternative music sphere. His shocking exit at 21 robbed the genre of a rising pioneer and sealed the fate of Marlians Music in the process.
